Whistler Blackcomb

Consistently rated as the number one ski resort in North America and among the best in the world, the resort of Whistler Blackcomb is just a two-hour drive from the city of Vancouver in the Coast Mountain range.The village of Whistler lies cradled in a valley between two mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, that rise up 5,280ft (1,609m) to provide more than 8,100 acres of prime mountain terrain, including 12 alpine bowls and three glaciers.There are more than 200 marked ski trails to enjoy while on holiday at Whistler Blackcomb. In fact, the state-of-the-art facilities at Whistler provided the cross-country, biathlon, Nordic combined, and ski jumping venues for the 2010 Winter Olympics.The resort offers state-of-the-art lifts that can carry 60,000 skiers per hour to jump-off points throughout the area. With two million visitors coming on holiday to Whistler Blackcomb every year, such lift capacity becomes a necessity. Skiers and snowboarders flock here from the world over, not for the weather (which can often be wet and foggy) but for the exceptional variety of skiing.The village of Whistler is set around a cluster of small lakes and is British Columbia's fastest-growing municipality. It boasts a quaint village atmosphere and offers shopping areas and après-ski restaurants bordered by squeaky-clean streets. In summertime, Whistler Blackcomb is a popular holiday destination when the focus shifts to outdoor activities like mountain biking, hiking, and fishing.Snowfall is rare in the city of Vancouver, but is more than adequate for the ski slopes on the Coast Mountains to the north where Whistler is situated. As with all Canadian ski resorts, Whistler can get very cold so go prepared for the occasional blizzard.In general though, temperatures are moderate throughout the winter season, rarely dipping below 12°F (-10°C) in the valley and 5°F (-15°C) on the peaks during the coldest part of the year. The average daily alpine temperature during most of the winter months is 22°F (-5°C).